Seed germinating tray



y 1943. L. v. PHELAN 2,318,711

SEED GERMINATING TRAY Filed May 1, 194].

Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE Dennison ManufacturingCompany,

Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts ham,

Framing- Application May 1, 1941, Serial No. 391,428 I 1 Claim.

My invention relates to the germination of plant seeds, and includesamong its objects and advantages the provision of an improved tray forgrowing seedlings for transplanting purposes.

An object of my invention is to provide a tray comprising waxed paperout as a blank and scored along predetermined lines to facilitatebending of the blank into tray formation. The blank is provided with asystem of interlocking slots and tabs which support the folded blank ina sturdy manner.

A further object is to provide a tray formed of a single piece ofmaterial bendable along predetermined lines, with the original blankhaving a tray bottom area of considerably greater width than the widthof the tray and bendable in such manner as to provide a tray bottomhaving a channel formation facilitating circulation of water underneaththe tray. The bottom of the tray is perforated for the passage of waterand permits it to rise in the soil in the tray through capillary action.

Another object is to provide a tray which may be cut from sheet materialand distributed to the trade in its original fiat form, stacked orbundled in compact formation to facilitate handling and transportation,in addition to being so fashioned as to facilitate bending andinterlocking of the parts by the user.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating a series of trays assembledin a Watering box;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the tray is folded;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the tray;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the blank illustrating themanner in which the bottom area is bent to provide a water circulatingchannel contoured in the nature of an inverted V;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an end portion of the trayillustrating the manner in which the locking tabs are interconnected;and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the same end with the locking tabspushed completely home.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of awaxed paper blank II] which is generally rectangular in contour, asviewed in Figure 2. The material of the blank may comprise wax coatedcardboard. Notches I I are formed in the two ends of the blank, whichnotches are located intermediate the side edges of the blank to providetwo ears l2 at each end of the blank. One ear upon each end is notchedat l3 and additionally slit at M to provide a tab I5. These two ears I2are located at diagonally opposite corners of the blank. Each of theremaining two ears I 2 is provided with a curved slot l6 extendinggenerally in parallelism with the two side edges l1.

Three parallel score lines l8, I9 and 2B are formed longitudinally ofthe blank Ill. The area 2| located between the score lines [8 and 20constitutes the bottom portion of the tray, but this area is somewhatwider in the blank than the actual width of the tray formed throughfolding of the blank. The lines are equally spaced and the score linesI8 and 20 are located at the same distances from the side edges IT. Thetwo areas 22 located between the respective score lines l8 and 20 andthe side edges l1 define the side walls of the tray, with the ears l2forming the end walls thereof. Score lines 23 define the lines of bendbetween the respective ears and the side Walls of the blank. All theears I2 are of the same widths as the side areas 22.

To form the tray from the blank ID, the blank is folded back upon itselfalong the score line I9, after which the two side areas 22 are foldedupwardly along the score lines l8 and 28. The bottom area 2| and theside areas 22 then take the configuration of a W, as whenviewing Figure4. All four ears l2 are then bent inwardly along their respective scorelines 23 and the tabs l5 are inserted in their respective slots l6, asin Figure 5, with the result that a slight downward pressure on the earsI 2 carrying the tabs l 5 shift the latter into the positions of Figures3 and 6. Since the edges M of the ears l2 constitute continuations ofthe edges H, the top edges of the ears [2 lie flush with the top edgesof the side walls of the tray when the blank is folded and the tabsinterlocked in the manner of Figures 3 and 6.

Since the bottom area 2! in the original fiat condition of the blank isconsiderably wider than the width of the erected tray, the tray bottomtakes the configuration of Figure 3, which is in the form of an invertedV. Thus the tray rests on the edges 25 of the ears l2 and along narrowridges 26 corresponding to the score lines l8 and 20. It will be notedthat the rounded corners 21 on the ears l2 provide a relatively largenotch 28 in each end wall of the tray for the free circulation of water.

In operation, it is preferable to employ a watering box 29 into which aseries of trays 33 is placed. These trays are somewhat shorter than thewatering box 29 to provide an unoccupied compartment 3| into which thewater may easily be poured. The trays 30 should have heights at leastequally that of the watering box 29 so as to facilitate proper exposureto the sun. At the same time, the side walls of the trays 30 fit in faceto face engagement when in the watering box 29 as well as with respectto the side walls of the box. Thus the side walls are braced againstsagging which might otherwise occur as an incident to the weight of thesoil therein. In the bottom area 2| of the blank I8 is provided a seriesof perforations 32 which are located on the score line I9. In the traycondition of the blank, the perforations I9 extend along the apex of thebottom and facilitate the passage of water through the bottom to betaken into the soil through capillary action. This arrangement providesthe ideal watering facilities for plants in that the moisture is appliedfrom underneath rather than by pouring the water into the trays throughthe tops thereof.

The blanks l0 may be assembled and packaged in bundle formation fordistribution to the trade. The score lines facilitate bending of theblanks and it is a relatively easy matter to bend the trays andinterlock the end tabs. The ends of the bottom area 2| are roundedslightly at 33 so that the ears I2 will fit more closely to the edgeswhen folded into position and thereby provide a soilproof relationshipbetween the ends of the tray bottom and the end walls thereof.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate myinvention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

A seed germinating tray comprising a blank foldable along predeterminedlines to provide side walls and a bottom, said bottom being wider in theblank than in the tray and bendable to provide a raised bottom providinga water circulating channel underneath the tray, and interlocking meanson said side walls for supporting the folded blank in tray formation andproviding end walls, said interlocking means comprising extensions ofsaid side walls projecting beyond the ends of the bottom wall and lyingfiatwise agains*v the ends of the bottom, and said bottom being providedwith bulging end edges with said end walls bending firmly thereagainst.

LOUIS V. PHELAN.

